"Genuinely brilliant expertise wedded to a caring and thoughtful approach that makes it truly peerless"
- Legal 500
We are a specialist family law firm with an enviable reputation for dealing with all aspects of separation, divorce, civil partnerships, nuptial agreements and children issues.
Our experience and outstanding client service is recognised with consistent top rankings for family law in the North in the respected legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers UK. The latter describes Silk Family Law as “worthy of national recognition”. Operating from offices in the heart of Newcastle city centre, in the tranquil surroundings of Aske Stables, on the Zetland Estate, North Yorkshire (close to the A1) and on Park Row, Leeds, we also see clients in consulting rooms in York and London.
Services we offer...
Divorce & Separation
Going through separation or divorce can be incredibly painful and the practical and financial consequences far-reaching.
Nuptial Agreements & Asset Protection
If you and your partner enter into a pre- or post-nuptial agreement, you can determine in advance how your assets will be shared should you separate.
Children
Disagreement can occur when it comes to making decisions about the future arrangements for children.
Cohabitation
Statistics show that cohabiting couples are also far more likely to separate than those who are married.
Financial Provision
The resolution of financial issues upon divorce can often be complex, requiring an understanding of accounts, pensions, trusts and tax issues.
Injunctions & Emergency Relief
We act swiftly and decisively to obtain protection against domestic violence, the removal of children from the jurisdiction and the dissipation of financial assets.
Civil Partnerships
The dissolution of Civil Partnerships can raise difficult legal issue which we can help to resolve.
Inheritance Claims
Our specialist team has a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in advising on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.
In-house Family Law Barrister
Silk is the only boutique family law firm in the North of England with an in-house family law barrister.
Read our latest blog posts...
Factors the court considers in domestic abuse cases
The most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales reported that 757,000 men and 1.6 million women had experienced domestic abuse between March 2019 ...
6 common reasons why people seek pre-nuptial agreements
There’s a common misconception that pre-nuptial agreements aren’t worth the paper they’re written on as they are not legally enforceable, or th...
Managing parenting relationships & reducing conflict over the school holidays – a co-parent’s perspective
The pandemic and associated events of the past year and a half have placed unprecedented pressures on all families. Children and young people have ha...
How the Family Court deals with coercive and controlling behaviour in children cases
Although immediately recognisable to those who have fallen victim to it by their partners or family members, coercive control is a relatively new con...
I want to get divorced – should I wait until the new divorce law changes come into force in April 2022?
I am speaking to many people currently who want a divorce and have asked whether they should wait until the “no-fault” divorce comes into force n...
Will my child’s views be listened to by the family court during proceedings for children arrangements?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce has hit the headlines again recently, with the BBC and Vanity Fair among media reporting on the former coup...
What happens to our Farming Partnership Agreement on separation or divorce?
At Silk Family Law - particularly our North Yorkshire office - we deal with a lot of divorce cases involving farming partnerships. Land and property ...
We’ve just separated and are not married but our house is in my ex partner’s name – Do I have any rights?
As fewer cohabiting couples decide to get married, this scenario is becoming more and more common. In fact, it never ceases to amaze me how many c...
Who gets the dog after we break up?
It's National Pet Day on Sunday (11th April 2021), and Silk Family Law is raising awareness on how to minimise legal disputes over family pets on sep...
Preserving family wealth on divorce
In his Budget 2021 speech last month, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced freezes on inheritance tax and capital gains tax allowances until 2026. Wit...
Gender equality: the court’s view on domestic labour in a divorce asset split
Gender equality debates often arise in March, the month in which both International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day fall annually. In 2021, these de...
Dealing with cryptocurrency assets on divorce
At Silk Family Law, we are starting to see cryptocurrency assets arising more frequently as a consideration in divorce and financial proceedings. ...
Court of Appeal considers family court’s approach to domestic abuse
Domestic abuse has soared during lockdown, so it is timely that the Court of Appeal will shortly be issuing new guidance to family court judges on th...
How to secure legal advice and representation when your spouse controls the family income
We often receive calls from people in need of legal advice who are, for varied reasons, entirely financially dependent upon their husband or wife. Th...
Lockdown driving business innovation while court alternatives can help legal cases progress faster
As the full legal and economic implications of Brexit and the pandemic begin to emerge, it is clear we’ll be living with the impacts for many y...
Is my pre-nuptial agreement still valid if my wedding is delayed due to the pandemic?
As we face yet another lockdown in England, many couples are dealing with the misfortune of having to delay their wedding for a second, or even a thi...
Cohabitation rights: the “common law marriage” myth and its wider family impacts
One of the biggest misconceptions in family law is that a ‘common law marriage’ exists in England and Wales. With one in eight people aged ov...
We can’t agree over where our child will spend Christmas
Silk Family Law solicitor Carly Hope recently shared her tips on reaching an amicable agreement over where children will spend Christmas: 'How to agr...
How to agree Christmas contact arrangements
Having helped numerous families plan for child contact over Christmas, Silk Family Law solicitor Carly Hope shares her tips on agreeing Christmas con...
Make the most of your divorce lawyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtAm8s1Kcw Relationship breakdown is often complex and is usually emotionally charged. Yet, it is also a time w...
The perils of sharenting: how to manage risks and privacy when sharing family updates online
As we emerge from lockdown, there may be a temptation to post updates about the activities that your children are now able to engage in. Understanda...
5 tips for helping teenagers deal with divorcing parents
Blog by Carly Hope, solicitor Separation is difficult for the whole family to deal with, particularly teenagers. If you are parents of teenag...
Parental Alienation – lockdown bringing new challenges to an old problem
Whenever parents separate, children are all too often the innocent victims being caught up in their parents’ acrimony. Whilst most separated parent...
Divorcing a narcissist – how to identify and navigate past their narcissistic traits during divorce
Until a few years ago, the term “narcissist” was rarely used. Over the last couple of years, however, one of the most frequent questions I am ask...
Check out our latest news articles...
Silk Family Law – latest COVID19 Coronavirus updates
Silk Family Law has continued to act for individuals meeting the challenges of separation and divorce throughout the pandemic. General information,...